Ahi Tuna Poke
It’s summer here in California. Glorious summer! Our June gloom has burned off and we have moved into the wonderfully beautiful days of summer. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, my puppy is finally sleeping through the night; everything’s coming up roses! We’ve been very busy with swim classes, gymnastics camp, beach days, and FUN. I love not having to keep a schedule with the girls. I love not setting my alarm and rushing them both out of the house and off to school. I love going with the flow and enjoying whatever life throws at us for the day. It. Is. AWESOME…. DUDE.
San Diego, Truffle Honey and Kevin George Peacock
Bachelorette Party Number Three Is Over.
There. I’ve said it! Yes, the bachelorettes are all behind me until July of next year. This trip was a nice change of pace from Vegas. At 8:30 AM, I jumped on the train to be greeted by eight girls screaming and handing me a glass of champagne and covering me in hot pink beads. Five hours and six bottles of champagne later, we arrived in San Diego. We stayed at the Andaz Hotel in the Gaslamp district which was perfectly situated in close proximity to a host of amazing restaurants and great bars. And of course, the hotel itself wasn’t too shabby. I dare you too Google the Star Suite at the Andaz Hotel. (Why yes, that is a stripper pole in the middle of the room. What’s it to you?)
Aguachile and Cabo Recap
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m kind of a foodie. I love delicious food, I love great finds in unexpected places, I absolutely adore restaurants. When we were in Cabo, I had one of the best appetizers. EVER. But before I get to Aguachile, let me tell you a little bit about our trip….
Hungarian Cauliflower Soup
Okay peeps! I’ve got to churn out some recipes here so my long diatribes about being a mommy and my liver damage will be pretty short for a few posts here. I have tons to tell you about Cabo, my sister-in-law’s wedding, bachelorette party numero 3, our new puppy, and summer. I will get to all of it because there is so much great stuff to share….In the meantime, it’s only 82 today so why not make soup.
As you should all know, I am Hungarian and was raised eating delicious (and not so delicious) foods. I absolutely loved this soup growing up and now my hubby loves it too. Dig In!
Roasted Artichoke and Asparagus Pasta Salad
Recently, Mixologist Molly had her bridal shower. It was such a perfect day! The breeze was floating through, the sun was hot and the vodka lemonade punch was delish. As was the champagne. I promised to bring my pasta salad and crack cookies. But I felt my pasta salad needed a change. A face lift. Some botox if you will. It needed to be younger, fresher and lighter. Wait. I forget. Am I talking about myself or food?
Sigh….
I was craving asparagus and mushrooms and with that, a new recipe was born. This pasta salad kicks my old pasta salad’s ass.
Angry Mac N’ Cheese – Vegas Style
Forgive me cooking gods, it has been weeks since my last post.
See, this little thing called “life” caught up with me. And by “life” I mean this: I was sick. The girls were sick. I was sick again. Sprinkle in two bachelorette parties in Vegas and three bridal showers and you can see why I honestly haven’t had a moment to catch up on sleep, laundry, bills, sleep, grocery shopping, health, sleep and immunity.
Heirloom Tomato Stack
Phew. What a week! I know I fell off of the radar for a while. A week ago today, my parents sent me a video of their house showing no less than four feet of snow. With blue skies and the flexibility in my schedule to pack the kids in the car with our “snow clothes crate” and go enjoy a few days in the snow – I jumped on it (ha!). Unfortunately I was also sick as dog. No voice, totally congested, achy…YUCK! I warned my mom and dad that I was SICK. They didn’t care. And neither did I. I just knew I had to do it because it would be my only chance this season to play in the snow with the girls. So, I picked up Pixie from school, loaded up the car and off we went! The girls were so stinkin’ excited.
A few hours later, the girls ripped themselves out of the car as quick as they could and dove face first into the snow. Snow bibs? Who needs ’em! Gloves? Naw! They played for about an hour and when the jeans were too wet and the fingers bright red, we retired inside for some cozy clothes and movies.
The next morning my mom had to head back to Los Angeles to work so my dad gave her a ride down the mountain to the main center in their community. As he was walking her to her car to make sure she could get out….he fell. On black ice. HARD. He came back up to the house limping and barely able to sit down in a chair. CRAP. (Side note- it occurred to me that had I still been nursing, a Boppy would make a wonderful “donut” to cushion one’s bruised tailbone)
Smoked Gouda and Drunk Onion Quesadillas
These quesadillas were another huge hit at every party we catered. They are so easy and so, so, so good. People would ask, “how do you get the onions to taste so sweet yet savory.” Our answer? Get ’em good and drunk! Add half a bottle of wine and boil the hell out of ’em.
Raspberry and Goat Cheese Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette
My hubby is awesome. Sometimes, he really plans out thoughtful and fun presents for me. My absolute favorite musical instrument is the cello. I love the deep, passionate, resonating sound it makes. When we got married, I walked down the aisle to Jeux D’eau which is a song from the Cirque de Soleil show, “O.” About thirty seconds in, a cello starts and it’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard.
Back when we still lived in Sherman Oaks, he rented a cello for me and got me private cello lessons. I LOVED IT! It was so much fun to learn – it was a LOT of work. I never realized how difficult it was. The funny part is, I guessed what he had planned for me. I wrote it down, brought it with us and showed it to him when we pulled up at my first cello lesson. He was gobbsmacked. Totally speechless. Honestly could not believe that I had guessed it.